Honesdale man pleads not guilty to rape

April 17, 2013 —

ITHACA, NY — Cornell University student Peter Mesko, 22, has entered a not guilty plea on April 12 to a rape charge in Ithaca. Mesko was charged with first degree rape after allegedly having sex with a female student at the university.

According to a press release from the Ithaca Police Department, the female lodged a complaint saying an unknown male went into her room while she was sleeping and had sex with her without her knowledge or consent at about 4 a.m.

The woman is quoted as giving a statement saying, “I woke up and he was inside of me. I was only conscious in his presence for about 10 seconds. I was facing away from him and did not see his face until he was on the floor. I woke up confused and uncomfortable and said, ‘I don’t like that, stop”

A friend who was also asleep in the room awoke and reportedly recognized Mesko as a student in the wrestling program. According to their statements, the women left the room and locked themselves in a bathroom, but a bit later the friend returned to the room to take a picture of Mesko.

The judge allowed Mesko to return to his home until the trial begins, which may not occur for several months because the court is awaiting action by a grand jury.